“Primates” have a diversity of over 500 species. Their body weights range from as little as 30 grams in the Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur to up to 250 kilograms in a gorilla. Some primate species live in trees, others on the ground. Some are solitary, while others live in small “families” or large groups of hundreds. 

The social structures and behavioral patterns of primates are extremely varied. Some species are active during the day, while others are nocturnal, making them difficult to observe. Consequently, we have very little knowledge about the species that are active at night.  

Therefore, when studying “primates,” generalizing conclusions from one group of primates to explain the entirety of all other groups should be done with great caution.  

Ultimately, the placement of apes and humans in relation to each other has not been settled. However, this may be resolved in the near future if we, as humans, come to believe that apes are neither mere beasts nor gods, but are, in fact, a part of ourselves.